The World Athletics Championship brings together Olympic champions, Diamond League winners and the top-ranked athletes for a nine-day bonanza of 49 track and field events. Organizers expect more than 2,000 competitors from 180 countries to compete in the event, which runs from August 19-27 in Budapest, Hungary.
As one of the three largest sporting events in the world, the championships offer a window into how track and field elites compare against the best in the sport. They also provide a strong preview of what athletes can expect the following year at the Olympics.
For many, it is the defining competition of their athletics careers. And this year’s championships in Hungary will be no exception. Thousands of fans from around the world packed out the National Athletics Centre on the banks of the Danube, and the excitement helped produce some spellbinding performances.
The 2023 edition of the championships was held in a city with an impressive running history. Its long-distance runners — including the marathon — are renowned for their strength in the heat, but it was the mid-distance races that stole the show on a day when temperatures soared into the 80s and humidity was high.
In the men’s 10,000 meters, a pair of Ugandans broke away from the pack after 10 miles. Victor Kiplangat was in the lead, with Leul Gebresilase running just off his right shoulder. By the 40K mark, Kiplangat had a 13-second lead over Gebresilase, and when he crossed the finish line, he knelt to kiss the ground.